Minnesota Endangered Species Youth Art Contest

Higgins eye pearlymussel(Lampsilis higginsii)

Photo by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Higgins eye is an endangered freshwater mussel found in the upper Mississippi River, St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin, Wisconsin River, and the lower Rock River between Illinois and Iowa. The species' range was about 50% of its historic distribution when it was first listed, but has declined further because zebra mussels have invaded a number of productive mussel beds. Fortunately, efforts to propagate and restock river reaches that are zebra mussel-free have been successful.